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'Fake death' prompts new TV row

01/08/2007

ITV has been forced to defend itself today after apparently wrongly suggesting that an upcoming documentary showed an Alzheimer's sufferer dying.

In publicity material for Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell, which was 11 years in the making, the broadcaster suggested that the final scene showed Malcolm Pointon "passing away" with his loved ones and documentary maker Paul Watson in attendance.

ITV has now said that the death did not in fact take place until three days after filming had ended.

Speaking on the Today programme this morning, Mr Watson was adamant that his film had not intended to mislead the public.

"What is the point?" he said. "I'm making a film with enormous trust about Alzheimer's.

"Alzheimer's is a fatal illness, if you contract it you're going to die. I'm not making a film about the last gasp of someone's death, that's a much bigger subject."

Much of the debate is focussed on a photograph which seemed to show the patient dying, but Mr Watson defended its use.

And he explained: "The film starts with X-ray pictures, it goes to family photographs.

"The picture of which I'm accused of freezing in order to simulate death - why would I want to if I'd really got the death? - turns into a photograph and we acknowledge the help of Malcolm and Barbara in the film."

In a press release about the film ITV said: "The film ends when Barbara calls Paul to ask him to come as Malcolm is about to die.

"In moving scenes, Malcolm is surrounded by his family and Barbara strokes his head as he passes away."

The publicity material has now been altered and Simon Shaps, director of television at ITV, has been forced to clarify the situation.

"The film maker responsible, Paul Watson, has now confirmed that the film does not portray the moment of Malcolm's passing, which was in fact some days later," he said.

"This will be made clear at the end of the film on transmission and should have been made clear earlier."

Mr Watson said he "did not compile that press statement" and that he "did not read it sufficiently clearly, if indeed I did see it properly and I'm sure I didn't."

He also claimed he had offered ITV a way of resolving the issue, which was turned down.

"I asked them to put in five words to explain that the picture is not of Malcolm's death, he did not regain consciousness and died some time later," he said.

"They [ITV] turned it down at that instant and came back to me much later and said maybe it is a good idea and we lost time."

The film is due to be broadcast on ITV1 at 21:00 BST next Wednesday.

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